Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cucumber in Spanish: Pepino
Pepino · noun (masculine) · peh-PEE-noh
Cucumber is pepino (el pepino) in Spanish, a straightforward masculine noun. Pepinillo, the diminutive, means pickle or gherkin. Pepino is also part of a vivid Spanish idiom: me importa un pepino (literally 'a cucumber matters to me'), meaning 'I couldn't care less.' The word is the same across all Spanish-speaking countries.
Pepino is peh-PEE-noh, three syllables, stress on PEE. Pepinillo is peh-pee-NEE-yoh, four syllables.
Agrega pepino picado a la ensalada para darle frescura.
Add chopped cucumber to the salad for freshness.
Cucumber in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cucumber, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pepino | cucumber | peh-PEE-noh | Default, widely understood |
| pepinillo | cucumber | Universal — pickle / gherkin (diminutive) |
How Native Speakers Use Pepino
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Salad preparation
Pela el pepino y córtalo en rodajas finas para el gazpacho.
Peel the cucumber and cut it into thin slices for the gazpacho.
Pelar means to peel. Rodajas are round slices. Pepino is a key ingredient in gazpacho andaluz.
At the store
¿Cuánto cuesta el kilo de pepinos?
How much is a kilo of cucumbers?
Pepinos takes a regular -s plural. At markets, vegetables are sold by the kilo in most Spanish-speaking countries.
Idiomatic usage
Lo que piensen los demás me importa un pepino.
I couldn't care less what others think.
Me importa un pepino is a colorful idiom. Other vegetables appear in similar expressions: me importa un rábano (a radish), me importa un pimiento (a pepper).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pepino
Confusing pepino with pepinillo
Incorrect: Quiero pepinillos en mi ensalada. (intending fresh cucumber)
Correct: Quiero pepino en mi ensalada.
Pepinillo specifically means pickle or gherkin — a small, pickled cucumber. If you want fresh cucumber slices, say pepino. The diminutive -illo changes the meaning significantly.
Using feminine article
Incorrect: La pepino está muy fresca.
Correct: El pepino está muy fresco.
Pepino is masculine (el pepino). Adjectives must also agree: fresco, not fresca.
Lock in Cucumber Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Pepino used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pepino in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Agrega pepino picado a la ensalada para darle frescura. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Cucumber in Spanish
- What does 'me importa un pepino' mean?
- It means 'I couldn't care less,' literally 'a cucumber matters to me.' It is an informal, mildly humorous way of expressing complete indifference. Similar vegetable-based idioms exist: me importa un rábano, me importa un bledo.
- How do I say 'pickle' in Spanish?
- Pickle is pepinillo (small pickled cucumber). For the broader concept of pickling, the word is encurtido. Pepinillos en vinagre (cucumbers in vinegar) is another way to specify pickles.
- Is pepino the same in every Spanish-speaking country?
- Yes, pepino is universal across all Spanish-speaking countries. Unlike many food words that vary regionally, pepino has no common synonyms or regional alternatives for the fresh vegetable.